Personalizing a digital audio player for use as an accessory

ABSTRACT

A method of personalizing an existing digital player includes incorporating one or more bodily elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme into a digital player holder, and configuring the holder to substantially conceal the player in a frontal view of the persona. This method makes it possible for a digital player user to transform his/her digital player into a fun and entertaining personal statement as well as into a fashion, sport or other accessory.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to digital audio players and more particularly (but not exclusively) to imparting a persona to an existing digital audio player, e.g., for use as an accessory.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

The use of digital audio players (e.g., MP3 players, players of other digital audio formats, etc.) is becoming increasingly popular among a wide variety of users. The popularity of these players is attributable at least in part to the fact that they tend to be small, highly portable and increasingly affordable. It is evident that digital players frequently become integral parts of the lives of their users. Some users, for example, are avid music fans who constantly carry their players with them to listen to their favorite artists. Some users depend on their digital players for entertainment while running, exercising or working at a task during which mental boredom might otherwise set in.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a method of personalizing an existing digital player. The method includes incorporating one or more bodily elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme into a digital player holder, and configuring the holder to substantially conceal the player in a frontal view of the persona.

In another implementation, the disclosure is directed to a method of using an existing digital player as an accessory. The method includes substantially enclosing the digital player in a holder that includes one or more elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme and that substantially conceals the player from view in a frontal view of the holder, and accessorizing a personal space using the persona.

In another implementation, the disclosure is directed to a method of personalizing an existing digital player. A plurality of personae associated with one or more themes are provided, and a selection of one of the personae is received. A digital player holder is provided in which one or more bodily elements of the selected persona are characterized and in which at least a body of the player can be concealed from view in a frontal view of the holder.

In still another implementation, the disclosure is directed to a holder for a digital player. The holder includes a case having a front and an enclosure for receiving a digital player and substantially concealing the player when the front of the holder is viewed. One or more bodily elements are incorporated in the case to characterize a persona.

In yet another implementation, the disclosure is directed to a improved digital player. The improvement includes a holder in which at least a body of the player is not visible in a frontal view of the holder. The holder has one or more bodily elements characterizing a user-selected persona associated with a theme. The player is personalized for use as an accessory in a personal space of the user.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method of personalizing an existing digital player in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a frontal view of a digital player holder in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure, including a base shown as exploded from a case of the holder;

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the digital player holder shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the digital player holder shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the digital player holder case shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2E is a bottom view of the base shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2F is a top view of the base shown in FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of personalizing an existing digital player in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. The term “digital audio player” is not limited to devices via which only audio content is available but also includes devices via which additional types of digital content may be available, including but not limited to textual, pictorial, and/or multimedia content. In the following description and in the claims, the term “consumer” may be used to refer to a purchaser, owner and/or user of a digital audio player holder.

It has become evident to the inventor that many users of digital players would appreciate being able to use their digital players as an accessory that indicates, e.g., the user's individual preferences in music, lifestyle and/or other personal interests. Accordingly, in some implementations of the disclosure, a holder for an existing digital player is provided in which the player can be used to accessorize a personal space. The term “personal space” may be used to refer to the personal space of a user and/or wearer of the holder. Additionally or alternatively, the term “personal space” may be used to refer to any space in which the holder may be used, worn, carried and/or viewed, including but not limited to a room or vehicle. A “personal space” may also include a vicinity associated with an activity of a user of the holder, e.g., on or near a user's exercise equipment or computing equipment.

One implementation of a method of personalizing an existing digital player is indicated generally in FIG. 1 by reference number 20. In step 24 of the method 20, one or more bodily elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme are incorporated into a digital player holder. In step 28 the holder is configured to substantially conceal the player in a frontal view of the persona. It should be noted that in various implementations, the steps 24 and 28 and/or various aspects of the foregoing steps could be performed together and/or in any order.

An exemplary holder for a digital player is indicated generally in FIGS. 2A through 2F by reference number 100. The holder 100 is configured to substantially enclose a digital player, indicated generally by reference number 102. The player 102 may be, for example, an iPode® by Apple Computer Inc., although it is contemplated that teachings of the disclosure could be practiced in connection with many other types of digital players. The holder 100 includes a case 104 and an optional base 108 connectible with the case 104. A bottom view of the case 104 is shown in FIG. 2D. Bottom and top views of the base 108 are shown respectively in FIGS. 2E and 2F.

The case 104 has a front 106 and back 110. The case 104 also includes an enclosure 112, e.g., a slot through which a body 114 of the player 102 may be inserted in the holder 100. When the player body 114 is in the enclosure 112, the body 114 is concealed from view in a frontal view of the holder, e.g., in FIG. 2A. Thus the player 102 is substantially concealed in a frontal view of a persona characterized in the holder, as further described below.

The player 102 may be retained in the case 104 by a retaining means (not shown) which may include, e.g., a strap, clip(s), and/or bracket(s). In some configurations, the case 104 may include two or more pieces which may be assembled, e.g., pressed and/or clipped together, around the player. Additionally or alternatively, the base 108 may serve to retain the player 102 in the case 104. The base 108 may include one or more slots 120 for accommodating a player head phone cord 124 and/or other connecting means. In some implementations, the base 108 may be configured to conceal the cord 124 and/or other connecting means from view in a frontal view of the holder 100.

The case 104 includes one or more windows 130 through which a player display area 134 and/or one or more controls 138 of the player 102 may be viewed and/or accessed. The window(s) 130 may include one or more panels made, e.g., of transparent and/or translucent plastic. In some configurations the window(s) 130 include one or more openings through which the display 134 and/or control(s) 138 may be viewed and/or touched. It can be appreciated that in various configurations, the window(s) 130 could include various sizes and/or materials and/or openings.

In the case 104 are included at least some of a plurality of bodily elements 140 characterizing a persona 144 selected, for example, by a consumer who may be the owner of the player 102. In some implementations, a persona is selected, e.g., by a consumer, from a plurality of personae associated with one or more themes. In the present exemplary embodiment, the persona 144 is associated with a rock music theme. Bodily elements 140 of the persona 144 include a face 148 that has a so-called “cool” expression, hair 152 that has an appropriate style, low-slung pants 156 having pockets 160 into which hands of the persona 144 appear to be thrust, and a shirt 164 bearing the expression “Rocker” and appropriate graphics 168. In various configurations, one or both arms 166 may be configured as clip(s) for attaching the holder, e.g., to a user's clothing.

In some implementations, the base 108 may also include one or more elements characterizing the persona. Thus, in the present implementation, the base 108 includes a continuation 172 of the pants 156. It should be noted that configurations are contemplated in which other or additional holder parts may include one or more bodily elements characterizing a persona. For example, for a persona (not shown) swinging on a swing, ropes of the swing could be incorporated into a neck strap (not shown) for the holder.

Various digital player user preferences can be addressed by a plurality of themes. Such themes may include but are not limited to types of preferred music, types of preferred activities, types of personal interests, etc.

Various personae may be associated with such themes. More specifically, in various implementations of the disclosure, a persona has a plurality of bodily elements descriptive of the theme with which the persona is associated. Various personae could be associated with a given theme. For example, for a country music theme, one persona may be a male character wearing jeans and a cowboy hat. Another persona associated with a country music theme may be a female character playing a guitar. More generally, for a given music theme, associated personae could include characters having any sexual orientation, or having no sexual orientation, dressed in clothing reflective of clothing styles typically worn by those who play and/or prefer the music represented by the given theme.

Additionally or alternatively, music-theme-associated personae could include characters evocative, e.g., of a digital player user's favorite song. Personae are not necessarily limited to human characters but may include animals, fictional characters, aliens, humanoids, etc. Thus, for example, for a favorite-song theme, an associated persona could be a hound dog character evocative of the Elvis Presley song “You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog”.

Other or additional themes may include, e.g., types of exercise and/or sports. Personae associated with such themes may include, e.g., male and/or female characters in sports dress and/or engaging in a particular type of sport and/or exercise. Thus, for example, personae associated with a running theme may be characters dressed in running shorts or sweat suits and may assume running postures. Additionally or alternatively, themes may include types of pets and/or other animals in which a user of a digital player may have an interest. Personae associated with a given cat breed could include, e.g., cat characters in various poses and/or having various facial expressions, for example, happy cat, sad cat, tired cat, grumpy cat, etc.

Accordingly, one implementation of a method of personalizing an existing digital player is indicated generally in FIG. 3 by reference number 200. In step 204, the method 200 includes providing a plurality of personae associated with one or more themes. In step 210, a selection of one of the personae is received, e.g., from a consumer. In step 216, a digital player holder is provided in which one or more bodily elements of the selected persona are characterized and in which the player body can be concealed from view in a frontal view of the holder. It should be noted that providing a digital player holder in accordance with various implementations of the disclosure includes but is not limited to manufacturing and/or selling and/or otherwise making a player holder available to a player user.

In some implementations and referring again to FIGS. 2A through 2F, the base 108 may provide stability in the event that the holder 100 is placed on a table, bookshelf, car control panel or other surface. Implementations also are contemplated in which the case 104 can be used apart from the base 108, and the base 108 can serve as a receptacle for the case 104, e.g., when the case is not being carried by the user. It should be noted that the base 108 is optional, and that various implementations are anticipated in which no base is included. In such implementations the case 104 may or may not provide stability when placed on a surface. In various implementations, the holder 100 may be configured to be attached to and/or hung from an object, e.g., clipped or pinned onto the clothing of a user, hung around the neck or wrist of a user, attached to or suspended from a piece of athletic equipment while in use by an exercising user, etc.

The holder 100 may be made, e.g., of plastic and may be rigid and/or flexible. Other or additional materials, including but not limited to metals and/or fabrics, may be included in a holder, for example, as attachment means, as connecting means, and/or included in bodily elements of a given persona incorporated in the holder. A wide variety of materials and configurations are contemplated, in view of the wide variety of personae and themes that could be implemented. Even materials such as feathers, glitter, beads, etc. could be used, for example, to characterize various personae.

When a persona characterized in a holder is frontally viewed, the body (and in some implementations, the cord and/or other connecting means) of a digital player in the holder cannot be seen. Thus on a visual level, the persona can essentially replace the player when the player is in the holder. It is contemplated that digital player users, especially children and/or adolescents, could become attached to their players in ways typically associated with dolls, stuffed animals, good luck tokens and/or other personally significant items. Various implementations of the foregoing digital player holder and related methods make it possible for a digital player user to transform his/her digital player into a fun and entertaining personal statement as well as into a fashion, sport or other accessory. 

1. A method of personalizing an existing digital player, the method comprising: incorporating one or more bodily elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme into a digital player holder; and configuring the holder to substantially conceal the player in a frontal view of the persona.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the player in the holder.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating into a base of the holder one or more bodily elements characterizing the persona.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a window in a case of the holder for accessing one or more controls of the player.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the holder is selected by a user of the player based on the characterized persona.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the theme is related to a use for the player.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the theme is related to music.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the persona represents at least one of the following: a human, an animal, a fictional character, an alien, and a humanoid.
 9. A method of using an existing digital player as an accessory, the method comprising: substantially enclosing the digital player in a holder that includes one or more elements characterizing a persona associated with a theme and that substantially conceals the player from view in a frontal view of the holder; and accessorizing a personal space using the persona.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting the persona based on a use for the player.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the personal space includes a vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the personal space includes a room.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein accessorizing a personal space comprises at least one of the following: carrying the holder, wearing the holder, and placing the holder in a vicinity of activity by a user of the holder.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting a base of the holder with a case of the holder.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing the base on a surface in the personal space.
 16. A method of personalizing an existing digital player, the method comprising: providing a plurality of personae associated with one or more themes; receiving a selection of one of the personae; and providing a digital player holder in which one or more bodily elements of the selected persona are characterized and in which at least a body of the player can be concealed from view in a frontal view of the holder.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the one or more themes is related to music.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting the player into a case of the holder.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the holder comprises providing a window through which one or more controls of the player are visible when the player is in the holder.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein one or more controls of the player are operable through the window.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the holder comprises incorporating a means for securing the holder as part of the persona.
 22. A holder for a digital player comprising: a case having a front and an enclosure for receiving a digital player and substantially concealing the player when the front of the holder is viewed; and one or more bodily elements incorporated in the case to characterize a persona.
 23. The holder of claim 22, wherein the persona is selected from a plurality of personae.
 24. The holder of claim 23, wherein the selected persona is associated with a theme.
 25. The holder of claim 22, further comprising a base connectable with the case.
 26. The holder of claim 25, wherein the base comprises one or more bodily elements characterizing the persona.
 27. The holder of claim 22, further comprising a clip incorporated in the holder as part of the persona characterization.
 28. An improved digital player, the improvement comprising a holder in which at least a body of the player is not visible in a frontal view of the holder, the holder having one or more bodily elements characterizing a user-selected persona associated with a theme; wherein the player is personalized for use as an accessory in a personal space of the user.
 29. The improved digital player of claim 28, wherein the holder comprises a case and a base connectible with the case.
 30. The improved digital player of claim 29, wherein the base comprises one or more of the bodily elements characterizing the persona.
 31. The improved digital player of claim 28, wherein the case comprises: an enclosure for receiving the player; and a window through which at least a control of the player is visible in a rear view of the holder when the player is in the enclosure. 